Tank type vacuum cleaner



Nov. 28, 1950 A. E. SMITH 2,532,264

TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 InventorArchie E. Smith,

H15 Attorneg Nov. 28, 1950 SMITH 2,532,264

TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4'Shets-Sheet 2 Archie E1.

H15 Attorney Nov. 28, 1950 A, E, SMITH 2,532,264

TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 InventorArchie E. Smith,

Nov. 28, 1950 A. E. SMITH TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet 4:

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| l l I O O #9 42 O 0O 00 00 f o Inventor Archie E. Smith bgwm His AUborneg Patented Nov. 28, 1 950 TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Archie E. Smith,Stratford, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application October 22,1947, Serial No. 781,455

Claims. 1

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuumcleaners of the tank type.

It is an object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of the tanktype including an improved arrangement of the various elements of thecleaner in a compact unit.

It is another object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of thetank type including a cord reel.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner ofthe tank type incorporating a cord reel and including an improvedarrangement for maintaining the cord in any desired position.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleanerof the tank type including an improved arrangement for removablylatching a cover in position.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuumcleaner incorporating my invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspectiveview partly broken away showing details of the vacuum cleanerillustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a detail of a latching arrangementfor maintaining the cover in engagement with the housing, illustratingthe elements in the unlatched position; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.3 illustrating the elements in a latched position; Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional elevation view of the vacuum cleaner; Fig. 6 isan enlarged sectional plan view partly broken away taken along the line6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line1-4 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view showing a detail of thelatching arrangement; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation view taken alongthe line 9-9 of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showingdetails of the construction illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is asectional plan view taken along the line I lll of Fig. 5; and Fig. 12 isa sectional elevation view partly broken away taken along the line |2l2of Fig. 5.

Referring now to Fig. 1; the vacuum cleaner includes a. housing orcasing I for enclosing the various operating elements. A portion of thetop of the housing I is provided with a cover 2 for providing access tothe space within the housing. The cover is provided with a handle 3 foroperating a latching mechanism to maintain the cover remcvably insealing engagement with the housing. The non-removable portion of thetop of the housing is provided with a handle 4 for carrying the cleaner.The cover is provided with an opening 5 at one end through which air isdrawn into the housing, and a similar opening 6, shown more clearly inFig. 5, is provided at the opposite end of the housing for the dischargeof the air. Each of these openings is arranged to receive a suitablehose so that air may be either drawn inwardly through the hose ordischarged therefrom. A button 1 projects from the top of the housingand is connected within the housing to a suitable switch for controllingthe operation of the cleaner.

Referring now to Fig. 2 it can be seen that the housing of the vacuumcleaner is divided into two compartments 8 and 9, the former beingarranged for enclosing a suitable motor and fan for impelling the airand the latter enclosing a cord reel and a dust-collecting filter or bagIll. The bag it) is assembled within the compartment 9 in reentrantform. The mouth of the bag is provided with a. sealing gasket ll, formedof rubher or other similar material, with which the cover is designed toengage to provide a dusttight seal. A frame I2 is provided within thecompartment for supporting the lower or reentrant portion of the bag.This frame includes a plurality of generally vertically disposed wiresl3 which are connected at their upper ends of a flat ring I 1.

Two keepers I5 are secured to the housing at diametrically opposedpositions adjacent the sealing gasket ll. These keepers are arranged forengagement by a latching mechanism associated with the cover formaintaining the cover in dust-sealing engagement with the gasket H. Theinterior of the cover 2 includes a central dome-like portion l6 and asurrounding fiat portion H. The portion H is provided with two openings18, only one of which is shown in this figure, through which the keepers[5 project when the cover is in its assembled position on the housing.In order to provide for latching engagement with the keepers the coverincludes oppositely extending latching arms I9, only one of which isshown in this figure. A roller 20 is provided on the end of the arm IQfor facilitating engagement and disengagement with the keeper l5. Tofacilitate the guiding of the arm between the latched and unlatchedpositions two addi- 3 tional rollers 2i and 22 are provided on the arml9. If desired, the roller 2i may be made integral with the roller 26. Aguide 23 is secured to the portion I? of the cover and includes an upstanding rib 2G which provides a track for the movement of the roller2!. This roller includes a groove for facilitating cooperation betweenthe track and the roller. In order to provide a further guide for themovement of the arm between the latched and the unlatched position andto limit the freedom of movement of the end of the arm l9 a channel 25is secured to the domelike portion l6 of the cover. The roller 22 islocated within the channel 25 and moves along this channel duringmovement of the mechanism between the latched and the unlatchedpositions. It will be understood that similar rollers and guards areprovided on the oppositely extending arm 19, not shown in this figure.The handle is connected, in a manner to be described in detail later, tothe arms is so that movement of the handle between the position shown inFig. 1 and the position shown in Fig. 2 results in shifting t e a ms frot e ed pos tion to h unla c ed po itio r in n w to F gs- 3 an 4, he eeer t clud a cam u ace '4 for en a e n b th roller 23. The end of the rib2!; adjacent the eep stape d as nd c te a 2 t fa ilitate entry of theroller 2%} beneath the cam surface 2? of the keeper. The cam surface 2?in- Q l dfis. n a ua e PQZ L J o en m n W t the correspondingly curvedsurface of the roller 25 In movement to the latched position therolls er2a isforced ben ath the low point 363 of the am sur a e and u tima c mesto g rient w t e curved po t on is in its l h position. The arm 59 ispressed downwardly as t e. relle ras ss beneat h l w p in it n he esiesv Qf he arm tats return o its ori inal shape brings the roller upwardlyinto eneas m w h th sur se 2.9 as o n n h last positio l us ate m F g ot a dental return movement of the arm is prevented.

Referring now toFig. 5, itv can be seen that h fa empa tmea 8 h dust-cle tin compartment 9 are separated by a perforated a ion 3%, h e as a ba ir sv me be th all of he casing t A motor 2 a fan or impeller 33 aremounted within the compartment li for rotation about a vertical axis, Tominimize the transmission of vibration from ihsm an t n o h c sin and hnc to m miz 1 1 s l ing f m he i at n of the walls of the casing, themotor and fan assembly is resiliently supported within the compartmentii on a ring 54 of rubber or other vibrationabsorbing material. Underthe influence of the rotating fan air is drawn into the housing throughthe opening 5 in the cover, passes through the housing in the directionof the arrows, and is ultimately discharged through an enlarged passageon muiiier 34c and the opening atthe opposite end of the housing. All ofthe air is directed through the dust-collecting bag or filter it so asto remove any dust particles therefrom prior to passage of the air intothe fan compartment and its discharge through the cpening6, The cover isillustrated in this figure in its latched position wherein the portionll. of the cover is forced into sealing engagement with the sealinggasket H of the dust-collecting bag it, In its assembled position thedust-collecting bag is; extends downwardly from its mouth, which isassociated with the, gasket H, to the opening 45 to the exterior of thehousing.

bottom of the casing and then upwardly about the frame i2. During thepassage of the air through the casing dust collects in the space betweena downwardly extending portion 35 of the bag and an upwardly extendingor reentrant portion 36. A circular frame 3? including an upper ring 38,a lower ring 39 and a plurality of connecting rods ift is provided forthe bag in order to assist in positioning the portions 35 and 36.

A reel ll, upon which the electric cord 42 for supplying power to thevacuum cleaner is wound, is located within the dust-collectingcompartment 9. The reel iii is arranged for rotating about a horizontalaxis and is substantially enclosed within a dust-tight cover 43, whichis secured to the housing I. The cover 43 extends about the top andvsides of the reel so as to prevent the bag Ii] coming into contact withthe reel. The frame ii for supporting the portion 36 of the bag issecured to the cover 43, the lower end of the wires 53 being welded orotherwise suitably secured to the cover 43.

The cord 42 extends from the reel through a passage ('24 within thehousing and through an The end of the cord is provided with a suitableplug it for connection to a power supplying outlet. The exterior of thehousing is shaped, as indicated at 4?, to provide a recess for thereception of the plug 48.

The reel til is provided with a spiral spring 43 which normally biasesthe reel for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig.5 so as to Wind the cord 42 on the reel. Any der sired length of thecord 42 may be withdrawn from the housing by grasping the exposedportion of the cord or plug and manually withdrawing the cord againstthe spring bias of the reel. To guide the cord during its withdrawalfrom the housing or its return to the housing a guide ts is provided inthe compartment 9 within the confines of the reel cover i3. This guideincludes a shaft stand a roller 55 mounted thereon for facilitating themovement of the cord past the guide. In order to retain the cord in anydesired withdrawing position the guide 49 includes an inclined face 52,and a stop 53 is provided for movement between a generally verticalposition, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, and an inclined positionadjacent the face 52, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The stop53 includes an opening 54 whose diameter is just slightly greater thanthe diameter of the cord 42. When the cord is being withdrawn from thehousing the stop 53 occupies the solid line position shown in Fig. 5.the stop is located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cord andthe cord, therefore, passes freely through the opening 54. However, whenthe cord is moved in the opposite direction, that is, to the right asshown in Fig. 5, under the spring-biasing influence of thereel 4!, thestop is moved to the right against theinclined face 52 and is forced toassume the inclined position shown by the dotted lines. In this positionthe plane of the stop is inclined to the axis of the cord and, since thediameter of the opening 54 is only slightly larger than the diameter ofthe cord, the cord binds against the edges of the opening 54, andfurther retraction under the influence of the spring-biased reel isprevented. Thus the user is enabledto withdraw the cord to any desiredlength depending on the distance the cleaner is located from the poweroutlet and, when the cord isv released by the user it. is auto,--.

In this position the arms l9 and the clamping screws 63.

matic'ally locked in position, preventing any tendency of the reel topull the plug from the power outlet.

In order to permit the winding of the cord on the reel when desired, arelease cord or rope 55, which extends through the passage 44 to theexterior of the housing, is provided. One end ofthe rope is connected tothe stop 53, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10, and the other end isconnected to a suitable ring or eye 5511 which is fastened to theexterior of the housing. When it is desired to allow the cord to berewound on the reel, the stop 53 is held in the solid line position by apull exerted from the exterior of the housing on the accessible end ofthe rope, so that the cord may freely pass through the opening 54 to itswound position on the reel 4|.

Details of the latching arrangement assoc1- ated with the cover 2 areillustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The latch-operating handle 3 is mountedon a shaft 55 which extends vertically through an opening in the top ofthe cover 2. Two disks 5'5 and 58 are arranged in spaced re lationshipon the shaft 55. The arms l9 include a connecting central portion 59which is clamped between the spaced disks 5? and 58. The clamping forceis exerted by a plurality of screws 6% or other suitable fasteningdevices. In order to prevent any lateral shifting of the arms 19 amemberfil, which is curved to fit the shape of the connecting portion 59is located between The diameter of the member (ii is chosen so as tocompletely fill the space between the arms is and the clamping screws58. In order to maintain the assembly in position during movement of thehandle between latched and unlatched positions two plates 62 and 63 areprovided on diametrically opposed sides of the disk 58. Each of theplates 62 and 63 includes an arouate surface 64 adjacent thecircumference of the disk 58, so as to provide an engaging surface forthe disk during its turning movement. The plates 62 and 63 are held inplace by screws 65 or other suitable fastening devices. The screws 65extend through a reinforcing plate 65 and into threaded engagement withthe plates 62 and 53. In order to transmit the motion of thelatch-operating handle to the plate assernbly 51, 58 and to the arms I9,the handle includes a depending portion 6! having a flange 68 of squarecross-section at its lower end. The flange 6E3 fits within a recess E59formed within the top of the disk 57. Thus movement of the handle istransmitted through the flange 68 to the disk 57 and thence to the armsIE to effect operation of the latch. The handle 3 is secured to theshaft 56 by a pin it, and the lower end of the shaft assembly iscompleted by a screw H which extends upwardly from the bottom of theplate 66 into engagement with the shaft 56. The lower end of the shaft58 has a reduced diameter providing a shoulder Ha. This shoulder fitsagainst the plate 66 to assist in providing an air seal.

The cover 2 includes a vertical section it? which provides a stop forlimiting the movement of the mechanism in the latched position, as bestshown in Fig. 8. The roller 21 comes in contact with the stop i2 andfurther movement of the arms Iii in a clockwise direction is prevented.Thus when the handle is moved to the latching position movement of thearms I9 beyond the position shown in Fig. 4 is prevented by engagementof the roller 2] with the stop 12, and accidental return movement to theun latched position is prevented by reason of the cam surface 21 of thekeeper 15, as previously described.

Details of the cord reel and its related elements are shown in Figs. 9and 10. The cord reel 4! includes two disks 13 and i l between which thecord is wound. The disk 14 includes a central cup-shaped portion 75which provided a receptacle for a block 16 of insulating material. Thereel structure further includes a cupshaped member 11 which is welded orotherwise secured to the portion 75 of the disk i l. The member 7'!includes a plurality of ears l8 which extend through slots provided inthe disk 14 and are bent over to hold the disk 13 and the members H inengagement.

A shait structure is mounted between the two sides of the cover 43 forsupporting the reel. This shaft structure includes a plate is on theexterior of the cover 43 and a cooperating plate on the interior of thecover, the two. plates being clamped together against the cover byscrews 8| or other suitable clamping devices. The plate Bil is providedwith two inwardly extending lugs 8:2 and 83 which engage correspondingslots 84 in a sleeve 85, only one of the slots being shown in thesefigures. The sleeve 85 is supported at one end on a shouldered cylinder*86 which extends within the sleeve and into screw-threaded engagementwith a second cylinder 8i within the sleeve 85. The shaft assembly iscompleted by a screw 88 extending from the exterior of the cover 43 intoscrewthreaded engagement with the shouldered cylinder 85. The plates i9and 89 are clamped against a side wall of the cover 43 to provide an airseal for excluding air passing through the cleaner from the spaceoccupied by the reel M. A similar air seal is provided by the screw 88in engagement with the other side wall of the cover 43.

In order to provide a bias for the reel tending to move the cord towardits second position a spiral spring 43 is arranged between the disk 13and a wall of the cup-shaped member Tl. One end of the spiral springfits within a longitudinal slot 89 in the sleeve 85. The other end ofthe spring is secured to a transverse wall of the cup-shaped member illby a rivet or other suitable fastening device. In order to provide forthe rotation of the reel about the fixed sleeve 85 a collar 91 isarranged on a reduced section 92 of the sleeve. The collar 9| includes aslot 93 which in the assembled position is aligned with the slot 89 ofthe sleeve, and the end of the spring 48 extends into both the slot 523and the slot 89. The collar 5! includes a bearing surface 94 upon whichthe disk 13 of the reel. ll revolves. The portion of the cup-shapedvmember Ti adjacent the shaft structure is; clamped between twocooperating screw-- threaded collars 95 and 96. The inner collar 95 isarranged to rotate on a reduced section 9? of the sleeve 35.

The insulating block 76 is provided with two: concentriccurrent-conductin rings 98 and 99-? embedded therein. One of the currentcon-- ducting wires ll!!! of the cord 42 is connected to the ring 98 andthe other wire is connected to the ring 99. A stationary block llll ofelectrical insulating material is arranged within the cover 43 adjacentthe concentric rings 98 and 99. A

pair of contacts I02 and I03 are mountedon the block Ifll', the formerforengagement with:

the. ring 98 and. the latter for engagement'with the ring 99. Each ofthe contacts I02 and IDS is mounted on astrip I04 of resilient material,

shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The resilient material'presses each of.the contacts firmly into engagement with its correspondingcurrent-conducting ring. As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, a wire I05 issecured to the contact I92 and a second wire. I as is secured to thecontact I03. Thewires I05 and lilfi extend through the casing to themotor 32 for supplying-power. to the motor. The provision of theconcentric current-conducting rings 98 and 99 permits the supplying ofpower from the cord 42 to the motor regardless of the position of thecord reel GI.

The guide 49 for the cord--42 is illustrated in the bottom of the areaenclosed by the cover 43 below the cord reel. Also illustrated is thestop 53 and the arrangement for securing the rope 55 to the stop; Inorder to provide for access to the cord reel when necessary the cover 43is open at the bottom, and a closure member or plate IIlI is provided toclose this opening.

In order to retain the closure member in position two recesses ms andI09 are provided in opposite sides of the cover 43 and a U-shaped clampH0, which is secured to the inner side of the closure plate lot, isarranged to engage the recesses I08 and I99. I I includestwo resilientarms I II and H2, each of the arms being provided with a portion H3,which is resiliently pressed into its respective recess when the closureplate is in position. Two supporting blocks H4 are welded or otherwisesecured to the closure plate IEi'I. The clamp I It is secured to thesupporting blocks by screws H or other suitable fastening devices. Inorder to assist in positioning the closure plate IIl'I within the bottomopening in the cover 4 3 an upwardly projecting lug H6 is provided neareach corner'of the closure plate. These lugs are of generally L-shape,one leg of the L being secured to the closure plate Hi7 and the otherleg extending upwardly into the housing to accurately position theclosure plate within the opening.

The tension on the spring A8 may be set or adjusted by inserting an openend wrench into engagement with the flat sides of the plate 88 afterfirst removing the closure plate 587. The

screws'8I are then removed and the plate 88 is turned to secure theproper tension on the spring 48. If it is necessary to shift the wrenchfor: additional turning of the plate 39a pin may be inserted temporarilythrough aligned holes in the members'lS and auto prevent unwinding ofthe spring. When the tension has been properly set the screws SI areinserted and the closure plate It? is again placed in position.

Another view of the cord 42 and its associated guide and stop elementsisshown in Fig. ll. It can be seen that the cord. extends through thepassage 44 provided in the bottom of the housing, and the rope 55 formoving the stop 53 to its cord-releasing position also extends throughthe passage 4'4. In the vertical or cord-releasing position illustratedin Fig. ll the stop 53- is'hel'd against two of the lugs IE6. As shownin this figure, the guide 5-9 is secured to the supporting blocks M4 byscrews ill or other suitable fastening devices.

Referring now to Fig. 12 it can. be seen that? the wall stiffeningpartition 3i between the fan compartment and the dust-collectingcompart- Ihe U-shaped clamp ment isprovided' with a plurality ofperforations of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limitedto the particular construction shown and described and I intend by theappended claims to cover all modifications in the;

spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by;

Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A vacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising a housing including twocompartments, a perforated partition between said compartments, a cordreel in one of saidcompartments, a frame positioned adjacent said cordreel and spaced therefrom, a dust-collecting bag in said one of saidcompartments, saidbag including one portion adjacent said partition anda reentrant portion disposed about said frame,- a fan and an electricdriving motor therefor in the other of said compartments and electricalconnections from said cord reel to said motor.

2. Avacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising a housing having anopening at. each end, an electric motor mounted within one end of said.housing for rotation about a vertical axis, an.

impeller driven by said motor and mounted within said housingcoaxially'with the motor. for rotation about a verticalaxis, a filter ofinverted reentrant bag form arranged within the other end of saidhousing, means for directing air moved through said housing by saidimpeller between the openingsthrough said filter to remove dusttherefrom, an electric cord for supplyingpower to said motor, electricalconnections from said'cord to said motor, and a-reel for said cordarranged within said housing under the inverted bag filter for rotationabout a horizontalaxis.

3. A vacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising a housing having anopening at each end, said housing including two transversely arrangedcompartments, an impeller for moving air between the openings and anelectric driving motor therefor mounted in one of said compartments,

a cord reel mounted in the other of said com- Ipartments,electricalconnections to said motor from said cord reel, and a dustcollectingbagin said other compartment positioned about said reel.

4. A vacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising-ahousing, said housingincluding a first and a second compartment, an impeller and an electricdriving motor therefor mounted in said first compartment, a cord reelmounted in said second compartment, electrical connectionsto said motorfrom said reel, a dust collecting bag in said second compartmentpositioned about said reel, a removable cover for said secondcompartment for providing access to said bag; and a electricalconnections to said motor from said reel, a frame in said dust col ilectingcompartment positioned around said cord" reel, and a dustcollecting bag in said dust c01- lecting compartment having a portionsupported by said frame.

ARCHIE E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 985,933 Pletsch Mar. 7, 19111,108,765 Lawless Aug. 25, 1914 Number 10 Name Date Spencer Dec. 6, 1921Sulton Sept. 22, 1924 Brown et a1. Aug. 1, 1927 Baxter Feb. 11, 1936Schellens Sept. 5, 1939 Smellie June 24, 1941 Lofgren June 15, 1943Swann Nov. 21, 1944 Nuffer et a1 Nov. 6, 1945 Lindberg May 21, 1946French et a1 July 16, 1946 Sparklin Mar. 23, 1948

